Newspaper Page Text
THE FIELD INK FIRESIDE.
MARIETTA, APRIL 10, 1870.
The “Field and Fireside."
A Weekly Paper devoted to
the advancement ot' Agriculture.
Literature, the Useful Arts, Po
litical Truth and General News.
Lowest priced Paper in the
South. In the County sl. per
year in advance. 'Out of the
County $1.15. Postage included.
R. M. Goodman A Sons.
Marietta Market Report.—
Cot ton 9. Corn, 68 @ 70. Flour
5@ 7 per bbl. Coffee, Rio, 18 @
22. Sugar, gran., 11. Syrup, 10
< 50, Mackerel, kts, SO (a $2.
Exchange on New York—lnly
ing at par, selling j premium.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENTS OF COBB
SUPERIOR COURT.
Acini. Ist, 1879
Tin* Gmud .Jury for the second week
ofGpbb Wiperior Court, March Term,
1870, make the flowing General Pre
sentments: ™
Referring to the action of the Grand
.Jury for tlie first week, we would state
that with one or two exceptions, we
have directed our labors to matters not
embraced in their report. Among the
topics of prime importance which'have
claimed our attention is
THE COUNTY DEIST.
The Treasurer, Ordinary, Sheriff and
Tax (Collector have' submitted their
books and vouchers to such examina
tion as our limited time would permit
us to make, and we have had several
interviews with fltein, whilst all of
them have submitted reports to our
body. These reports, interviews and
examinations lead us to believe that tlie
following statement of the indebted
ness and resources of tlie county is sub
stantially correct. It was prepared by
the’Ordinary, acting with the Treas
urer and Sheriff.
Resources ttttd fndebted.ness of ( *>bbt
County. March 27th. tS7l*.s
Indebtedness note due.
Comity Ho mis SI,OOO 00 |
Warrants issued by Ordinary 017 30
Jury and Bailiff certificates - 1,232 00
Jail fees from Jan. I, ’7B, to date 1,803 03
Total due - -- -- -- - - $1,311 33
Indebtedness not due.
t ountv Bonds Jan. Ist, 1880 - $2,000 00
•• ' ” “ “ 1881 - 2,000 00
“ •• “ 1882 - 2,000 00
“ 1883 - 2,000 00
Total not due- - - SB,OOO 00
and drawing 7 per cent, interest.
Presen t ]if son fees.
(’ash in Treasury - - $lB7 10
Uncollected Taxes 1878 3,220 03
$3,417 37
Present deficiency ----- SI,OOO 00
Prohttble. Resources front Tories for 1870,
Taxable Property if given in as
high as 1878, sav $3,200,000, at
4-10 oi l percent. $12,800 00
Deduct from commissions, in
solvent costs,errors, etc., say 1,023 00
Net income ------ $11,773 00
Probable JpXjtenses.
Deficiency now ------ SI,OOO 00
Expenses of Court next week 000 00
“ “ “ November 1,800 00
Jail fees 1,200 00
Bonds and Bridges ----- 1,000 00
Alius House - -- -- -- - 000 00
Bonds ami interest ----- 2,300 00
Other necessary expenses - - 1,000 00
$9,336 90
'fit. start on Jan. Ist, 1880 - -$2,119 01
The foregoing statement was prepar
ed on the 27th of March, and covers t-V
w hole of the year 1878 and the present
year up to that day, a period of, say
fifteen months. The figures as to the
county' indebtedness, arc doubtless cor
rect, but so far as they relate to the in
come of the present year they tire in
tended to be only estimates. Whether
the county will really have a balance
on hand at the beginning of next year,
according to these estimates, will de
pend upon two important facts, first,
wdiether the unpaid taxes of 1878, a
mounting to $3,229 93 will be collected:
and, second, whether there will he a
similar deficit in the collections for the
present year. Should either or both of
these possible things occur, then the
financial condition of the county will
he worse at the end of the current year
than it was at the beginning of it. in
ihut event, it w ill become necessary for
us to materially reduce our expenses,
or increase our taxes, if we expect to
meet our obligations. Any increase of
taxes should he avoided, if possible,
since the burthen of taxation already
presses very heavily upon most of our
people.
Before quitting this subject, we
would respectfullly suggest that all
county officers whose duty makes it
necessary for them to handle the public
funds, adopt a rule to prepare at the
beginning of each year an itemized
statement of the receipts, expenditures
and disbursements for the preceding
year—that these separate statements be
entered upon their books and then laid
before the Treasurer and by hin> sum
marized, and that this summary, with
a full and particular statement, of the
county indebtedness, and all the re
ports be submitted to the Grand Jury
at the spring term, and then published
for the information of the people. The
adoption of some such rule as that hero
indicated will Ie a protection *to both
the officers and the people, by guard
ing the one against unjust suspicion
and hostile criticism, and by keeping
the other thoroughly informed as to
the manner in which these trusted pub
lic agents discharge their respective du
ties. In one sense these officers are tiie
servants oftlie people, and the money
they handle belong to the people, and
therefore, as honest men and faithful
stewards, as we believe all of them to
he, the}' cannot hesitate to render to
their principals, once every year, an ac
count of their actings and doing*.
In tliis connection it may be well to
i til attention to the fact that the Sher
iif ha- not been paid anything for diet-
big prisoners, jail fees, etc., .from the
Ist January, 1878. down to the present
time. While concurring therefore, in
the recommendation made by the Grand
•Jury for tlie first.week of the present
term, that the charge for dieting pris
oners shall he reduced from forty cents
to thirty-three and a third edits per
day, we cannot but regret that this in
debtedness should have been allowed
to occur. The otliees of SlieritV and
Tax Collector were consolidated a few
years ago, in the hope that the expens
es attending the collection of our taxes
would thereby he curtailed, hut we are
assured that the result does not an
swer the expectation, and therefore we
recommend that these otliees he sev
ered. and that the old law he restored.
County Court.
The Ordinary in handing us •lie a
bove tabular statement of the indebt
edness and resources of tlie Comity,
accompanied it with the remark, that
“one-half of more of the present jail
fees and court expenses could be saved
by the establishment of a county court. ''
We concur in this opinion. It is not
believed that tlie services expected
from a County Court could be perform
ed by the Justices of the Peace and No
taries Public in their several districts,
under the new Constitution, since that
instrument limits their jurisdiction
and does not give them power to try
criminal offences. We therefore re
commend our members in tlie Legisla
ture to introduce a bill looking to the
establishment at an early day of a
County Court, which shall be empow
ered to sit at short intervals and to try
all criminal cases below the grade of
felony, the .Judge of said court to he
appointed by tlie Grand Jury for a cer
tain specified term of years, subject lo
removal for cause, and his compensa
tion to depend exclusively upon the
costs assessed in such cases as may come
before him. We suggest further, thut
tlie costs in said court he the same as
those nett allowed in similar cases in
the Superior < 'otirt.
County Commissioners.
We would also recommend that a bill
he introduced to authorize the Grand
Jury to appoint five commissioners from
different parts of the county, to he
known and distinguished as Commis
sioners of Hoads and llerenues whose duty
it shall be to audit all claims and ac
counts against the county, to inspect the
hooks and vouchers of the County Treas
urer, Tax Collector, Ordinary," Sheriff
and Superintendent of the Alms House,
and to exercise a general supervision
and control over the roads and revenues
of the County, the compensation of said
Commissioners to he their actual expen
ses whilst engaged on and about the
public service.
Preeuteuee of Crime.
\\ e come now to consider certain mat
ters of the gravest importance to the
people of this (’onnty,and indeed oftlie
whole State. It cannot have escaped
the attention oftlie most careless obser
ver, that crime now prevails in all parts
of the country to an extent never wit
nessed at any former period in our his
tory. Whether this is one of the results
of the late war between the States, or is
one of the consequences of the sudden
emancipation of 4,000,000 of slaves, or
whether it is one of those mysterious
visitations of Divine displeasure to
which all nations are liable, and w hich
eomc anil go like the plague at remote
intervals of time, it is impossible to say.
We only know that the fact, exists, and
with that it now becomes our dutv to
dal.
To meet, and if possible to check this
rising tide of crime, two remedies pre
sent themselves : One involves a resort
to repressive measures, such as the
speedy trial and certain punishment of
offenders ; the other the employment of
the means at hand for the moral and
intiiroctu.nl elevation of the people.
The Moffett Li’jenr Late.
The Constitution makes it the duty of
tiie General Assembly to exercise the
powers of taxation “for educational i
purposes.” It also provides fora “spe
cial tax on tiie sale of spirituous and
malt liquors,” and devotes the tax,
when assessed, to tiie support of com
mon schools.
In order to carry intoeffect this pro
vision of tiie Constitution, the State
School Commissioner, ITof. Orr, one of
the most capable and faithful men who
ever held office in Georgia, recommend'
the passage of a law similar to what is
known as the Moffett Liquor Law of
Virginia, and to this recommendation
we desire here to give our hearty ap
proval and endorsement. The law ern
bracesall classes of dealers, each one of
w hom is required to pay a specific tax
for licence to sell, varying from $23 to
$l5O per annum, according to the grade
of tiie dealer. Every relaildealerissuh
jeet in addition toa tax of two and a half
cents for every drink of spirituous
liquor, and a half cent for every drink
of malt liquor sold by him. 11c is fur
nished by the State, at his own expense,
with an apparatus called a register.
Before the sale of a drink, the dealer is
required to turn the crank oftlie instru
ment, which is so constructed as to regis
ter inside tiie fact that a drink lias been
sold. The revenue officer, when he
furnishes the dealer with a register,
locks it and seals it, himself taking
charge of the key. At the expiration
of each mouth, the tax collector is re
quired to visit the business place of
every dealer in the county, unlock the
register, count tiie number of drink
marked down therein as sold, and col
lect tiie tax accordingly, in order to
secure tiie turning of the crank, which
is attended with the ringing of a be!!
within the instrument, and which is
required to he done in the presence of
tiie purchaser, the dealer is made liable
to a fine for failure to turn of not less
than S2O, or more than SIOO, one third
of which goes to the informer.
The revenue realized under tin- law
by Virginia, which since the division
of the State lias a population not quite
•is large as that of Georgia, i- $3000,000
per annum ; and there, is no reason to
doubt that the income, if the law were
adopted here, would Ini fully an much.
The law is popular in Virginia with all
classes, except the small politicians.
Even the dealers do not object to it,
since they take good care t<> make the
purchaser pay tiie lax on the drink
which he takes. In lhi.-way a class of
people is reached who otherwise would
pa\ but little if any tax.
])mj Toy.
Another wise provision of the new
t’onstitulion provides fora tax on dogs,
end devotes the revenue tints raised al
so to the vital cause of educating flic
children of flic Stale. According to
the United Sta%*s cciimi . there were
THE FIELD AND FIRESIDE—MARIETTA, (GA.) THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1879.
in Georgia in 1800, a fraction over 512,-
000 sheep. The census of 1870 gives
the number of sheep then in the State
as 419,465. According to the returns
of the tax receivers, collected under the
auspices of the State Agricultural De
partment, there were in 1875 only 319,-
323. This shows a decrease from 1860
to 1875 of nearly 200,000 head of sheep,
worth say $500,000, and most of w hich
decrease was caused by ihe depreda
tions of dogs, Since the emancipation
of tlie colored people, the number of
dogs in the State has increased front
about 75,(KM) in 1864, to about 200,000 at
the present time. In other words, as
the dogs have increased, the -beep have
decreased. The dog is a comparatively
worthless animal, while the sheep is
one of the most valuable, and is estima
ted to yield an annual profit to its own
er of 63 per cent, notwithstanding the
ravages of tlie (logs. The Agricultural
commissioner estimates the loss from
the depredations of dogs in Georgia at
near SIOO,OOO per annum, or nearly
enough to pay the per diem and mile
age of both Houses of the General As
sembly. And vet the dog pays no tax,
while the “poor man’s little ewe lamb'’
does. The widow’s milch eow and the
farmer's plow horse are also taxed, but
not the worthless cur that sleeps all day
and prowls all night.
Should the Legislature pass these
two measures, our school revenue
would be as follows: From present
sources, $300,000; from the liquor tax,
$300,000; from the dog tax, $200,000;
total, SBOO,OOO. With this fund, the
State School Commissioner says he can
sustain in every school sub district of
the State absolutely free schools, for
both the white and colored races for
terms varying from five to eight months
in the year. If this should be done,
wliata leverage it would give the true
men and women of the State in their
warefare against crime now so fearfully
in the ascendant in the country. We
would thus he forcing dogs which de
stroy our property, and the men whose
intemperance causes much of this
crime, to unite w itli us in putting it
down by educating and elevating all
classes of our people.
Tax on Deadly Weapons.
But there is still another and more
important tax which should lie impos
ed by the Legislature. The frequency
and number of crimes daily committed
in all parts oftlie country have at last
aroused the popular mind tosomelhing
like a due appreciation of the horrible
and cowardly practice of carrying con
cealed weapons. But little good will
come of this tardy awakening of the
public conscience however, unless rad
ical measures are adopted and vigo
rously enforced. And to that end, we
recommend that a general law be en
acted, requiring all dealers in pistols,
bowie-knives, dirks, sword-canes,
slung-shots and other deadly weapons
to pay a heavy tax, and in addition to
pay a tax on every weapon by them
sold or brought into the State, .and also
to keepa list of the names of all persons
to whom any of said weapons may be
sold, said list to be certified as correct
and laid before the Grand Jury from
term to term. Furthermore we would
recommend that all purchasers, own
ers, users and possessors of any of said
weapons, except sheriffs, policemen,
ifcc., be required to pay an annua) tax
on the same, and the whole fund thus
raised he devoted to the education of
the children of (lie State, if the Legis
lature should be indisposed to pass such
a law for the whole State, then we trust
that our members in that body will use
their best endeavors to have such a local
act passed for Gobi) county. If peace
able people are required to pay
a tax on their watches and books anil
even on their heads, why should per
sons who go about w ith deadly weap
ons strapped to their sides, prepared at
any moment to.break tiie peace and com
mit murder, be exempt from paying
a round tax on their.arms?
Kiutj and Haber's h‘sport.
At :t former term of this Court, Messrs
William King and George F. Holier
were appointed a committee to make a
thorough examination oftlie hooks, pa
pers Ac., oftlie several county officers,
including the indebtedness and resourc
cs oftlie county. These gentlemen com
pleted their labors and submitted their
report to the Grand Jury at tiie last No
vember term of this Court. The report
whit h is very elaborate and v duminiors
was not published,but ordered to be tiled
ill tiie Ordinary’s oftie, subjoet to the in
spection oftlie people of the county.
There is a general desire however, to
learn the contents of the report, and to
gratify that desire Mr. King, at our
request, lias prepared a synopsis oftlie
report, which, with these general pre
sentments,we recommend to be publish
ed.
In closing our labors, we desire to
make our acknowledgements to bis
Honor Judge Lester for bis courtesy to
tli is body, and to Mr. Solicitor Greer
for bis prompt attention and assistance
in the discharge of our duties.
I*. W. ALEXANDER, Foreman.
WILLIAM F. GROVES.
JOSEPH 1 I BANKS,
GEOGKE L. KENDRICK.
FRANCIS N. GRAVES.
ALBERT A. WINN,
DAVID X. MeEAt HERN.
JOHN I*. BROADWELL,
GEORGE 11. CAMP,
TANARUS! LM AN J. ATKINSON.
ALEXANDER L. ORR.
JAMES S. KEMP,
JOHN A. L. BORN,
JOHN Y. ALEXANDER.
JOHN W. SEWELL.
JOSEPH L. CAMP,
JOHN BARRETT,
THOMAS W. WHITFIELD,
CHARLES It. HOLLEMAN.
GEORGE T. FOWLER.
Ordered, That the foregoing general
presentments and the synopsis alluded
to therein, bcptthlishcd : - v< quested Ly
the Grand Jury, March Adjourned
Term. 1879.
GEO. X LESTER, J. S. C.
CLERK’S OFFICE,/
Cobb Superior f 'ourt, f
I certify the foregoing to be a true
copy of tbe Grand Jury Presentment*,
Jvo. B. Cami’iii u., < Jerk.
To the Hon, tCrund. Jury oj Cobb (hnjutyt
March Term. 1879, 2nd Panel—tn obe
dience to your instructions the under
signed, have prepared a condensed
statement of tiie report of the condition
of the various public Offices oftlie coun
ty, presented by them to the Grand Ju
ry of last November term of the Supe
rior Court, wliiehcouden cd statement,
we now submit io s our honorable Wlv.
It affords us nuiclt pleasure to state, |
that in our thorough examination j
of the county otliees, we have discovered
nothing, which indicates dishonest in- i
tentions on the part of any officer; and |
that their Records were generally neat
ly and properly kept, butin some of the !
departments,culpable neglect and disor- j
der have existed, in lion-ccmfortulty to j
the requirements of existing laws; and :
the practice of a proper system In the j
preservation and tiling of vouchers and \
accounts.
Financial statusof the county on 30tli
June 1878 to Ist January 1879:
Amount of Ordinary’s orders
unpaid ------ 1034.85
Amount of Jury and
bailiff fees unpaid 1934.00
Amount due to Wit
nesses beyond the
county limits - - - 1.'i.00 2983.85 j
County Bonds due Ist
Jan. 1878, unpaid - - 1400.00
County Bonds due Ist
Jan. 1879 2000.00
Interest due on count v
bonds Ist Jan. 1879- 798.00 4198.00
Probable county expenses from
1-t July 1878 to Ist Jan; 1879 - 4400.0(1
$11,581.85
RESOURCES.
Cash in Treasurer’s
hand 30th June IQB. 21.19
Amount uncollected
sovent. Taxes for 1877 531.92
Probable a’t taxes for
1878 at 35cts on SIOO 10.000.00 10,553.41
Probable deficiency
on Ist Jan. 1879. ------ - -$1028.44 j
Additional county tax of lOets
on SIOO will vield about - . - 3000.00 |
i
Probable avaiable cash means
for 1879 $1971.50 j
Clark and. Treasurer's Department. \
The law requiring a registry of all j
orders issued by the Ordinary on the
Treasurer for payment in priority of
dates, and a report each year, to the
Grand Jury of the first term of the Su
perior Court, of the Financial condition
of tlie county, has not been complied
with—the Ordinary having failed to
notify the Treasurer of the orders issued
hv him.
Tax Collector'll Depart men t.
The delay in collecting and paying to
the Treasurer, the county taxes is in
violation of the law, requiring the same
promptness in paying the taxes due to
tin* county, as the portion due to State;
which promptness is impracticable un
der the existing defective tax laws.
Fined and Forfeitures.
Adjudged by the Superior Court to
the amount of $360 the most of them at.
tlie March term, 1870, remains uncol
lected—no executions having been is
sued in many cases.
Officers of the Comity and Court.
Have collected linen ami forfeitures
to the amount of $630; and have fail
ed to pay over such collection to the
Treasurer as required by law.
County 'Alms House.
The late Superintendent, Mr. A. L.
Rollins, from the Ist December, 1875-,
to Ist December, 1877, has been over
paid $181.99. The Superintendent, here
tofore, has omitted to keep a proper
reeordof the receipts and disbursements
ot the institution.' The cultivation of
the farm, resulns in a cost, each year,’
much exceeding the value of the crops
produced.—Great lack of economy is
manifest, in the use and care of the
corn made on the farm. Thesnpplhs
of bacon and Hour purchased for the
inmates, when bought on a credit, as
they usually are, are at on extra'cost e
qual to tlie payment of an aimuid inter
est of 53 per cent.
Ordinary's Department.
The records Are neatly kepi, hut great
w ant of order and system exists, in fi
ling a way accounts and vouchers; ren
dering examinations of tiie condition
of the office very difficult. In some
cases payments are made for which
vouchers are not found. No record lias
been made of tile insolvent lists al
lowed to the Tax Collector for the year
1875 am] 1876. The failure to notify the
Treasurer of each order issued on'him
for payment, not only occasions arrep
ularities in the Trearurer’soffice;but is
in non conformity to tiie requirements of
law.—The failure to require from tiie
Superintendent of the alms house an
annual statement of its financial condi
tion, isan important omission, which
needs correction.
By having the heretofore existing
omissions and irregularities in tiie va
rious county offices, corrected, and a
proper system persued in tiie future,
the Grand Juries would experience but
little difficulty hereafter in making
careful examinations of tiie condition
of each office.
Rcsjm'Gfully submitte i,
Wm. Kim., i
j Commit tee.
M.irieUn, tin., March Ist, 1879.
A Fine Lot Of Gents. Ladies,
Misses, & Childrens.“hoe*, just received
at Lindley A - Barne.-.
Crockery and Glassware hi J. B.
O'm ii i. & Co’s cheap store.
Notice to Guano lluyers.
Messrs Smith & MeCrea having turn,
ed over their Agency for those flue
brands of Guano, The Soluble Ska
Isi.ano, CmtsAl'kax and Pat.wkco to
the undersigned, he will represent and
sell the same the farmers. .Nothing bet
ter on this or any other market. Would
be glad to have his many friends and
alltlio.se in want of a first class Guano
to call and examine before buying.—
One-hundred-and-twenty tons on hand
Mr. Joseph Tucker will assist.
Re-peet fully,
W. L. BARNES.
New Spring Goods, at J. IS.
O m.ii.i. A. Co’s. Dry goods, Hals, and
a ii ice lot of (.‘Hi,, and Ladies shoes,
cheap.
MARIETTA SAVINGS BANK.
JOHN R. WINTERS, President.
G.C. BURMA!*, Vice President.
\. VAN WYCIf, Cashier.
Notes Discounted.
la< li.tnyo Jhnigbl uiul .Sold.
mmn. m
B. R. Strong,
(NucffNMOr lo fii. W. Williams*.)
West side of Public Square,
Continue to keen foi
* 4 V
XDr-CLgrs e
PAIsfI^RILS,
Garde
Clover (Mid ‘Brass oeeds,
Vf
Books Mini Stationery, &c., &c.
Proscriptions I'incliilly ami accurately compounded.
Marietta, (3a., Feb. 18, *7R. . B, R, Strut*.
I' - ~
LINDLEY & BARNEd
.North Side of Square, next dour to Cherokee Corner.
l)oal( TS ill,
3Dr37" G-oods, Hats, Boots,
Slb-oes aosLcl G-rooerles.
Marietta, Ga., Feb., <>, ’79. 1^
HALEY bbs;
(DEALERS IN)
GROCERIES,
HA IW WARE,
MOUTH-EAST CORNER PUBLIC SQUARE,
Marietta Georgia.
October, 1, 1877. ly
Largcund New Arrivals
L. S. NORTHCUTT & SON,
South West (Joiner of the Public Square
-4 LARGE and select Stock of'Dry <oolw, embracing every
-*■ thing usually found in a lirst class Pry Goods store. The
Goods are direct from the Manufacturers and their Agents, and wil
be sold as low or lower FOR CASH than any similar Goods ovei
brought to this market. I mean what I say. Call nnd exnmiur
for yourselves. Our extensive stock of
Boots and Shoes, Hats, Caps, &c.
Are made at the best Factories and never fail to give on
satisfaction. J.. S. NOR'lHCl’T't'
Marietta, Jan.. 9, "i'J.